Punjab presents Rs 1tr budget amid opposition protest

LAHORE: Finance Minister Punjab Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman presented a budget for the fiscal year 2014-15 with a total outlay of Rs 1.03 trillion in the Punjab Assembly amid strong protest by the opposition members led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ARY News reported Friday.

As soon the budget speech began, opposition members rose and started chanting slogans.

However the finance minister continued his speech. He said 36 % percent of the development budget will go to South Punjab.

Opposition tore apart copies of budget during the budget session.

“Rs 119 billion are allocated for development projects in South Punjab. Rs 345 billion are allocated for development, while Rs 704 billion for non development projects,” he added. He said work on 19 power projects had been started in Punjab. Rescue 1122 service will now be expanded to 13 new tehsils of the province.

He said three new universities for women will be constructed in the province. The minister said Rs 31 billion are earmarked for power sector.

The minister said Rs 5 billion are being allocated for laptop scheme.

Police will get Rs 90 billion in the budget. He said 20,000 homes will be constructed for labourers in the fiscal year 2014-15.

The announced that government would give technical training to 2 million people in next two years. He added that new employment opportunities for 4 million people will be generated in next four years.